what is on my bench?
The Balloon man

I play my street organ (which is festooned with automata) regularly at Koby’s Swap Meet.  I spotted the hobby horse tricycle in a stall adjacent to where I was performing.  When I was ready to go I inquired about the price.  The kind gentleman (Jorge) gave it to me with a smile.

I let the tricycle sit on my bench in front of me for several months until I realized that it wanted a balloon man riding it.

I’m now on the journey of creating this automaton.  It will be riding my street organ on of these days.

not for sale.

what is on my bench?
tommy, the toad
playing the xylophone

After creating Tommy the Toad and installing him into my street organ performance, and after seeing the public response to this automaton,  I have decided to create a lot of three, two of which will be offered for sale.  And perhaps there will be future lots of three offered for sale.

These automatons will be similar in design to the toad performing on my organ will be driven using a finger crank that includes a flywheel.  Not being the first, these three will be better than the toad on my organ.

this batch is not yet available for sale.

Tommy the toad playing his lily pad xylophne

Entirely scratch built, this automaton shares the stage with Benny, the Double Bassist.  These two little automatons also share a 120vac synchronous gear motor, which operates extremely quietly.

Tommy beats on his lily pads with flailing arms as his body moves randomly right and left.  This has proven to be a popular addition to the street organ performance.

not for sale.

BENNY, THE DOUBLE BASSIST

The next addition to the little band is Benny, the Double Bassist.

At his roots, he is a highly customized Timberkit.  Benny is loosely modeled after my brother-in-law, who also plays a (real) double bass in Texas.

Benny’s head is first 3D printed, then is further customized with sculpting and epoxy putties.

This automaton is powered by an electric motor.  His left arm goes up and down on the neck.  The right hand moves across the strings.  Benny’s head rotates and his body and the double bass rock with the music.

not for sale.

CLEON, THE CLARINETIST

The Clarinetist is the second of ten musicians that I’ll be adding to the street performance.  The Clarinetist and the Pianist occupy the right side module.  There will also be a left side module (with a Double Bass player and a Xylophone player).  These left and right modules will be permanent.  A third module will mount to the front of the street organ and will contain 6 musicians and a Beam Engine.  The front module will alternate with the mini carnival. 

The Clarinetist is a faithful, reliable member of the Bean Engine Band.  He taps his foot and gently rocks as he plays his music.

not for sale.

PATSY, The Pianist

With the Mini-Carnival completed I decided to add musicians to the street organ performance.

I have ordered 10 musicians and 1 Beam engine from Timberkits in the UK.  I envision The Beam Engine Band.  I suspect I’ll have the band completed by March 2024.

The Pianist is the first musician to be completed.  She is a heavily modified Timberkits.

This video documents the addition of The Pianist.

not for sale.

Airship

Flying above the mini carnival is an airship.  In real life this little guy would not fly, but then this is not real life, is it?

The pilot and copilot smile and wave at the crowds below as the airship hovers near the Carousel.  The paying customers sit in the rear seats, enjoying the sights and sounds.  The two propellers spin and the rotor whirls as the airship dances in the air

The Airship contains four small gear motors, which are powered by the 18 VDC rechargeable lithium battery which is mounted underneath the mini carnival.

At this time (February 25, 2023) the airship is complete with the exception of the livery, which I am working on.

not for sale.

Ball Spinning Seal

July 2022.  Playing my 20 Pipe Street Organ in public has been a very rewarding experience. It makes people happy. I’ve just added a “Seal Spinning a Ball on its Nose” module to the mini carnival that sits on the front of my 20 Pipe Street Organ. It joins the Carousel and the Ferris Wheel. 

In addition to the Seal spinning the ball, there are three dogs wagging their tails, a pig spinning its tail, and the carnival owner looking out over everything from his spot in the ticket booth.  Daisy Duck gazes enviously at the Seal.

This module is electric, powered by the mini carnival 6vdc lithium battery pack.

not for sale.

Carousel & Ferris Wheel

April 2022.  Playing my 20 Pipe Street Organ in public has been a very rewarding experience. It makes people happy. I’ve just added a Carousel and a Ferris Wheel (a mini carnival) to the front of the street organ and I’ve found that people are even happier. We need happiness in the world.

There are many fun little details aboard the Carousel and Ferris Wheel.  The Ferris Wheel characters are fastened with magnets, which allows me to swap them out depending on the seasons and holidays.

The Carousel and Ferris Wheel are powered by the 6vdc rechargeable lithium battery which is mounted underneath.

not for sale.

5 Slat Message Board

July 2021.  This automaton depicts a biped exercising by pedaling.  The output of the pedaling effort is the movement of the 5-slat message board.  The message board cycles three messages and then repeats.

The messages are held in place with magnets so that the messages can be changed.

The 5 Slat Message Board is powered by a 110vac gear motor.

not for sale.

Auger Lift

March 2021.  This automaton depicts a man exercising. He is pedaling an elliptical type of machine. His efforts turn an auger. The auger lifts marbles to the top of a marble run. Powered by a 110vac gear motor, this automaton is a pleasure to watch. It is created using hardwood, Baltic birch plywood, stainless steel shafting and bearings, leather, and custom 3d printed components.

not for sale.

Stair Stepping Bottle Spinner

September 2021.  The delightful Stair Stepping Bottle Spinner is the 3rd design in the ‘product spinning’ series of automata that I am creating. A biped steps on levers, which in turn drive a chain that incrementally rotates a 4-1/2″ display platform. The display platform is designed to hold a bottle or a can. The ‘product spinning’ series of automata are to be rented into customer-facing environments, such as a counter in a retail store, and are responsible for the display of products of special interest or focus.

not for sale.

Peddler

September 2020.  The eye-catching product spinning Peddler is the 2nd design in the product spinning series of automata that I am creating. With a stationary lower base, a biped waves and pedals the upper base in circles, which in turn causes a 9” display platform to counter-rotate. The display platform is designed to hold and call attention to larger-small items, such as jewelry, pastries, confections, art, sunglasses, watches, books, cards, drugs, electronic devices, etc.

not for sale.

Surfer

April 2020.  This energetic little surfer is the result of a ‘two-week construction’ challenge that I gave myself. The surfboard is mounted on three moving shafts. As the handle is turned the surfboard moves randomly, as if skimming over the waves, The surfer’s feet move on the surfboard as he keeps his balance.

not for sale.

Two Tier Spinner

May 2020.  The appealing Two Tier is the 1st design in the product spinning series of automata that I am creating. A biped works out by both pedaling and pulling levers. As a result of his work-out two product display tables and one flag pennant are caused to rotate. The product display tables are intended to hold products for display. The two tables rotate counter to each other at different speeds. This automaton would be used in a customer-facing situation, such as the counter of a retail store, to call attention and focus on certain products or items.

not for sale.

Big Wheel Lift

July 2019.  Big Wheel Lift #1 seems to easily capture the attention of passers-by. One of the Jim’s Gym series of automata, a biped is exercising by pedaling and pulling levers. This motion in turn causes a big wheel to lift marbles from the bottom to the top, where they drop onto a track and roll back to the bottom. Lots of color and motion and interesting noises. Magnetic shock absorbers. This is a fun one.

not for sale.

Scissor Lift

July 2018.  The first of the ‘Jim’s Gym’ series of automata, this active little automata is a pleasure to operate and watch. As the crank is turned the biped raises and lowers handles which, thru a scissor-like mechanism, in turn, raise marbles to the top of the automata. Powered by gravity the marbles then descend back to the bottom where they arrange themselves and prepare for another trip.

not for sale.

Monte the Monkey

December 2016.  After playing the street organ in public for a few sessions, and after having been asked MANY times ‘where is your monkey?’ I decided to bite the bullet and install one.  A trip to the San Diego Zoo Safari Park netted me a stuffed monkey.  I replaced its stuffing with cogs and links and struts and bearings and soon had a monkey that rotated left and right, and that moved its left hand up and down, sort of like a music conductor would.

I installed his wand and dressed him and we were off to the races.  The public seemed to relax about things and was able to enjoy the music more, now that the monkey was present.  His hat is held on with magnets.  This allows me to change his hats depending on Christmas, St. Patricks Day, 4th of July, etc.  I also change his wand when appropriate.  Monte makes a huge difference and was my first formal automaton.